On the 13th of October, myself (Rebecca), my husband (Steve) and my Dad (Andy) will be cycling 56 miles to support Headway Swindon.

In 2017 my brother-in-law, Wesley, suffered a severe and life-changing
stroke – which initially left him with no movement in his right side and unable to speak, read and write. He had a lifesaving hemicraniectomy (for the non-doctors, half his skull was removed to allow his brain to swell up). All of which left him hospitalised for 4 months. Doctors prepared Penny for the worst, phrases like “might not make it”, “will never walk again” were used. But that wasn’t an option for Wez, who’s children were 3, 5 and 7 at the time.

So, time passed in hospital and eventually Wez can go home and get some decent sleep (and food!). He can walk (kind of), but no movement in his arm still, and no speech still. However, Wez begins to go to Headway, a charity run organisation which specialise looking after people with head injuries. And wow, he started to walk better, movement started to return in his arm, and he even started to call the kids by their names.

“might not make it”, “will never walk again”, not for this family, not for Wez.

Wesley is an enthusiastic cyclist. With his wife Penny, they started a sportive company by the name of Give It Some back in 2014. Their biggest event of the year would always be ‘Savernake Sizzler’. Even their three children would help them get things ready. Due to the impacts of the stroke they had to put all future events on hold.

Today Wez can walk around with little to no aid, he has started to move this full arm, and slowly getting the use of this hand back, more and more words are coming out. And he continues to go to Headway, which is still having a massive impact, almost 2 years on now from when it all happened.

Which is why we are going to do something for Headway, we're going to do the famed Savernake Sizzler! It’s been years since either me, or Steve, have been on a bike. The route is 56 hilly miles (90km), with an elevation gain of 3574ft! We would really like to raise money for Headway, doing something that Wez loves.

Will you sponsor us? The money will go to Headway.

Will you join us? This is no longer an official event, so there will be no signposts, marshals, food stations or water stations (unless we find a pub!). There are a several Savernake Sizzler routes to choose from, ranging from 32 miles to an astounding 110 miles! Please copy and paste the link below to view the routes.

https://giveitsome.me/index.php/events/savernake-sizzler